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12/06/2008
An Olympic gold medallist is to meet a North East slimmer who has gone to great lengths to shed the pounds and has also inspired a national slimming chain.
Thirty three year old Sally Scott, of Peterlee, enrolled on the ‘Swim for Fitness’ programme at Peterlee Leisure Centre to lose weight and improve her general well-being. By following a structured gym-style swimming workout, using a newly-installed ‘Swimfit’ unit, Sally has dropped two dress sizes and is feeling fit!
The ‘Swimfit’ unit has been funded by Northumbrian Water through its £10,000 partnership with the Amateur Swimming Association North East and their Everyday Swim Easington project.
Waterproof workout cards and swimming equipment, including kickboards and hand paddles, make up the unit. A personal trainer is also on hand to provide support, advice and encouragement.
Sally’s new figure has made such a splash that Slimming World, which recently set up a slimming class at the leisure centre, is now recommending ‘Swim for Fitness’ as part of its diet and exercise regime. Anyone who attends a Slimming World session will be given free ‘Swim for Fitness’ vouchers.
Reporters and photographers are invited to the poolside to meet Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew, a slimmer Sally Scott, and Swimfit personal trainer Lorraine Kelly on Monday, June 16, 2008 at Peterlee Leisure Centre, St Cuthbert’s Road at 10.15am. Please bring your swimming costume and come on into the water to test your fitness!
Everyday Swim Easington, which is funded by Sport England, is one of seven pilot projects set up across England by the Amateur Swimming Association to break down the barriers to swimming. A total investment of £3 million has been allocated by Sport England for the next three years.
Duncan Goodhew, Everyday Swim ambassador, said: “Everyday Swim is about encouraging people to swim for leisure, fitness and fun, making it something people want to do and keep doing.”
Sally said: “I’ve been following the programme a few times a week for three weeks and as well as feeling great, I have already gone from a size 22 to a size 18. My goal is to get down to a size 14. The help from Lorraine, my personal trainer, is invaluable.”
“It has also inspired me to train as a swimming instructor. I have passed my Level 1 Swimming Teachers award and hope to go on in September to study my Level 2 Full Swimming Teachers award at the Benfield Centre in Newcastle.”
Denise Fisher, Team Developer for Slimming World in Durham and Cleveland, said: “To have the chance to bring Slimming World and swimming together on the same evening every week is fantastic. We encourage members to increase activity levels regardless of how fit and active they are and swimming is a great way to achieve results.”
Louise Hunter, Corporate Responsibility Manager at Northumbrian Water, said: “Northumbrian Water prides itself on being immersed in community life in the North East and our partnership with the Amateur Swimming Association’s Everyday Swim project in Easington is a natural extension to our ‘Water for Health’ campaign, which encourages people to lead a healthy lifestyle.
“We hope that Sally’s story will encourage more of our customers to get active in the water as well as drinking enough water!”
Duane Newton, Everyday Swim Easington Co-ordinator, said: “The ‘Swimfit’ unit adds another dimension to people’s swimming experience. By having structured sessions it will encourage people to make the most out of their time in the pool and as they see and feel the benefits they are more likely to make swimming a regular part of their fitness routine.”
For more information contact Leanne Clough on 0191 301 6733.
Ends
Notes:
• Easington is known as the ‘unhealthy capital’ of the North East and Northumbrian Water is committed to making a significant improvement to the health and well-being of the people of Easington and surrounding areas. As well as its investment in the Amateur Swimming Association’s North East project, Everyday Swim Easington, the water company is also a partner in Healthworks, the Healthy Living Centre in Easington Colliery, which opened in October 2007. Northumbrian Water provided County Durham Primary Care Trust with a former waterworks building, as well as support and expertise to get the initiative off the ground. In April 2008, Healthworks won the ‘Delivery Excellence through Partnership Working’ award at County Durham and Darlington Primary Care Trust’s Genesis awards.
• Swimming and exercise in water is an excellent way to get physically active. The pressure and resistance of the water makes your body work harder and a 30-minute session in the water can be the equivalent to a 45-minute to one hour workout on land.